Crowley's Erbe named to Team USA roster

CROWLEY – A whirlwind summer of baseball has culminated in what most aspiring young players can only dream of for Crowley High’s Haden Erbe.
After wrapping up a three-month period filled with travel baseball (Louisiana Legends), taking a trip to the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina and then participating in the USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) in late August, Erbe got the news of his young life when he learned recently that he was one of eight players that will be added to USA’s 2016 National Team Trials.
And that was just the beginning
On Sunday, he also received and accepted a scholarship offer from University of Louisiana at Lafayette head baseball coach Tony Robichaux to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns beginning in 2017.
“I was hoping to make the (National) team, but it just seemed like a big stretch,” said Erbe, who learned of his selection via a USA Baseball podcast while having supper with his family at a local restaurant.
“It was surreal when my name popped up on there. I was just filled with joy; I kind of expected to make it, but, then again, I kind of expected not to make it. There were so many players to choose from and to see my name on there, it was just an amazing feeling.”
The selection lands Erbe on Team USA’s 18-and-under 40-man roster heading into the trials in Fullerton, California next summer. From there, the team will have workouts and split squad scrimmages before the roster is dwindled down to 25 for international play.
This year’s national team played a three-game series against Chinese Taipei in Taiwan before competing in the WBSC 18U Baseball World Cup in Osaka, Japan. Team USA went 8-1 in the tournament and avenged a 3-0 loss to Japan in the championship game to win the gold medal with a 2-1 victory on Sept. 6.
Erbe was just as elated about his commitment to the Ragin’ Cajuns, who he has grown up watching.
He chose the Cajuns over just about every in-state school and a few colleges in New York. LSU was not among that group, but Erbe had already made up his mind after a summer in which his stock rose considerably after playing with the Legends and getting exposure across the South.
“I love everything about UL,” said Erbe. “The coaching staff and what they’ve done in the last couple years: the back-to-back Super Regionals….. And last year, they did it with a young pitching staff. That’s just amazing.
“Coach Robe is a pitching expert and I’m just really excited to learn under him.”
For now, with the Team USA Trials and college so far away, the main focus for Erbe is becoming the best pitcher he can be heading into the spring.
“I’m taking the fall off and just training,” said Erbe, whose fastball  was clocked between 88-91 mph during the summer. He topped out at 92. “I’m hitting the weight room and working on my long-toss program to get a little bit stronger and throw a little bit harder. I also want to improve my breaking ball and just become a better pitcher before the high school season and carry that into the summer”
The Gents advanced to the second round  of the Class 4A playoffs last season, but Erbe, who posted a 7-3 record as a junior and struck out 65 in 40 1/3 innings, is hoping to get much further during his senior campaign.
“I definitely want to make it to the state tournament,” said Erbe. “We have the guys to do it, we just need to go out and do it.”